The 243-room St. Regis Bal Harbour is one of the most luxurious beachfront hotels in Miami. Highlights include lavish decor, spacious guestrooms with oceanfront balconies, two infinity pools, three on-site dining options, and a prime location across from Bal Harbour Shops. The hotel is an excellent choice for visitors who are indifferent to the South Beach party scene. Rooms are among Miami's priciest (for good reason); travelers looking for a cheaper alternative should try Fontainebleau Resort, 10 minutes south, which has less impressive rooms but more pools, restaurants, and nightlife. Those wanting to be closer to the action could also try the comparably luxurious W South Beach.

Sure, it boasts a 10,000-square-foot spa, $4 million worth of modern art, and some of Miami's grandest rooms. But the 124-room Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour (formerly ONE Bal Harbour), which opened in 2008 as the Regent Bal Harbour, brings a low-key luxury. It's more romantic and understated than the nearby Acqualina, but its beach is far worse. Trade-offs, trade-offs.

It's on the beach and has an Olympic-size pool. If you're in town to shop at the posh Bal Harbour Shops (right across the street), the Sea View is a solid, more affordable alternative to the One Bal Harbor Resort & Spa. But for similar (often cheaper) rates, newer rooms, and friendlier service, head a few miles north to Sunny Isles.